Concerns raised on internal conflict in health department

Metro India News | RANGA REDDY

An internal conflict within the district's Health Department has sparked concerns over its impact on public healthcare delivery. The District Medical and Health Office (DMHO) has become the centre of an escalating dispute involving senior officials and staff, with allegations of administrative high-handedness, workplace harassment and competing claims over governance.

For the second time within a week, a group of district health employees, accompanied by representatives of the Telangana Non-Gazetted Officers (TNGO) Association, approached the state Secretariat to submit a fresh complaint against District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO) Swarna Kumari to Telangana Health Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha.

According to employees, Swarna Kumari, who was transferred to Ranga Reddy district from Vikarabad about three months ago, has drawn criticism from both junior staff and senior medical officers. Officials allege that senior doctors and Primary Health Centre (PHC) medical officers are often made to wait outside her office for extended periods and are publicly spoken to in a disrespectful manner. They also claim that transfers have been carried out unilaterally without considering the views of local public representatives. 

However, another section of officials argues that the controversy may have arisen from efforts to tighten administrative discipline rather than personal differences. Following her appointment, the DMHO reportedly enforced stricter attendance norms, strengthened biometric monitoring, conducted surprise inspections and issued notices to employees found neglecting their duties.

There are growing demands for Telangana Health Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha and Ranga Reddy District Collector Narayana Reddy to intervene, resolve the dispute quickly and focus on public healthcare making it the immediate priority.